18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 326

They were well prepared this time, and wouldn't necessarily be infected, but going to the research institute might be a different story.

Everyone was afraid of death. Stella wouldn't have risked so much to pick up herbs if she wasn't afraid of dying. And she'd taken the trouble to take care of them for the past few years.

The smog sneaked in during the eternal night, and the toxicity and the speed of infection was even more astonishing. Although the siblings had worn masks when they went out before, they had opened the windows at home to ventilate the house. If one person was infected, the whole family was doomed.

About a dozen people in the villa where Monkey lived were almost all symptomatic, and there was a lot of coughing while talking on the neighborhood channel.

It was an ominous sign - the virus was among them.

Stella's heart was heavy with dread. She knew it was only a matter of time before the infection breached her doorstep. In these times of crisis, no one in their right mind would dare venture out, but could they truly outwait the reach of the haze?

Jasper had lived through the initial outbreak in his past life, which many had mistaken for a mere cold. He had worked tirelessly for six months before the virus claimed him, and he knew all too well that developing an antiviral took time - much longer than they had. Though Stella had provided a breakthrough medication, the ticking clock of their health was a nemesis no one could predict.

"I'm not one to sit around," Stella declared with grim determination. "The research facility is a dangerous place, but it's also our best shot. If we can get in, we'll have access to top-notch care at the first sign of symptoms."

Jasper understood her fears, yet he couldn't bear the thought of her walking into the lion's den. "Stella, I don't want you to go," he pleaded, recounting the harrowing days of his sickness when it felt as if millions of parasites were devouring his insides. Back then, he had nothing to lose, but now they had loved ones, and the thought of one of them perishing was unbearable.

Jasper tried to convince her, "We're both healthy, haven't been sick in years, and as long as we sanitize every day, we won't get infected. Don't worry too much."

Since they've been together, this was the first time he took such a firm stance. Stella thought about it and didn't resist, perhaps she was really worried. Jasper was right, she was not alone now, beside her were him, Cooper, and Rosie.

She didn't sleep well at night, she kept feeling dizzy, as if hearing coughs in the air. But when she opened her eyes, everything was too quiet.

As soon as she opened the door in the morning, Cooper wagged his tail and came over. Before he even got close, he sneezed three times at her.

Rosie was sanitizing, Stella didn't pay much attention at first. She thought Cooper's sneezes were caused by the cleaning product. But as the sneezes became more frequent, Cooper kept scratching his nose.

Stella panicked immediately. She specially prepared his favorite food - three chicken legs, but he only ate two. In the past, he would've finished all of them without hesitating. Stella knew his appetite well; he always cleared his plate.

She squatted down to open Cooper's mouth, shinning a flashlight down his throat. She couldn't see very clearly, but it seemed swollen and had white spots.

She then lifted the dog's eyelid, the base of his eye was slightly yellow, with a hint of dark blue. Her head started to thump, Stella's eyes began to hurt, and she hurriedly went back to her room to pack.

Jasper followed her in the room, "Are you going to Swan Hill?"

"Yes," Stella replied while packing, "Cooper may be infected. I must take him there."

He tried to reassure her, "Calm down, it's not necessarily an infection."

"His throat is red and swollen with white spots, and his eyes are yellow and turning blue. These are all symptoms you had when you were infected."

Jasper argued, "Dogs' eyes naturally have a yellowish hue, and Cooper has been eating a lot of fried fish lately. It may be just a throat inflammation, why not try some medicine first?"

Stella stared at him, "If Rosie was the one who got infected, would you stay so calm?" Her tone was sharp and aggressive.

As soon as she said that, Stella regretted, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, but you know how much Cooper means to me."

Jasper didn't say anything, but quietly looked at her, then helped her pack, "I'll go with you."

"No need, you stay home and take care of Rosie."

He was right. The research institute was the most dangerous place; they couldn't afford to take risks with a family. She could just take Cooper alone, so they wouldn't all be at risk. Jasper insisted, "The virus is so potent. If Cooper is indeed infected, we won't be able to escape either."

"No, both you and Rosie are healthy, but Cooper is a dog. Its respiratory system is different from humans."

"Julia died this morning," Jasper revealed shockingly, "In just a few short days, she went from getting sick to dying very quickly, and her entire family got infected. Stella, if you plan on going to Swan Hill alone with Cooper, whether I get sick or you get sick, we probably won't be able to see each other for the last time. You should calm down. We'll face everything together."

Stella felt reluctant, "But..."

Jasper came forward and held her tightly, "Stella, if something happens to you in Swan Hill, I will live in regret for the rest of my life."

Her breathing calmed down. In fact, he had a point, if someone in the family gets infected, there's a high chance the rest will also get infected. They held each other tightly. Their voices were a bit loud, attracting Rosie to come over, looking panicky and helpless. Stella quickly pushed Jasper away, turned around to speak but saw a trail of clear snot flowing from Rosie's nose.

Wearing a mask and protective suit, Stella examined Rosie. Her temperature was 37.9 degrees, which is considered to have a fever. Her throat was slightly red and swollen but there were no white spots. However, the base of her eye was slightly yellow. Stella asked, "Rosie, when did this start?"

Rosie didn't feel anything, and the clear snot was just suddenly flowing.

It seemed that the virus was more terrifying than expected. Even the two of them who have always been stronger than adults have been infected.

Remembering that it only took Julia a few short days from getting sick to dying, Stella immediately felt panicked. She hurriedly decided to leave.

If they were late, they might not even be able to get a bed in the hospital.

Before leaving, Stella made a lot of preparations. She boiled a large pot of herbal soup, insisting on drinking it every day.

She gave Cooper a thermometer. Luckily, his temperature was normal, but the symptoms of a runny nose came with it, his eyes were heavy and he felt sleepy. Cooper didn't have a mask and protective suit. The three of them had to protect themselves as best they could.

When leaving, Stella executed a medicine drop again.

In consideration of Bran trampling over his dignity to preserve her honor, she dropped a large package for his family.

After driving two or three kilometers away, a voice came from the walkie-talkie, "Sis, did you drop medicine for me?" "I'll be away for a few days. I hope we all get the chance to see each other again."